Asthma Australia is a for-purpose, consumer organisation improving the lives of people with asthma.
We believe the best way do this is through education and training. So that’s what we do.
We help patients keep on track between visits through referrals to our 1800 ASTHMA service where we assists thousands of people every year with asthma to manage their lifelong disease in the best way possible.
We educate the community, education sector and health professionals in what to do when someone has an asthma flare-up or an asthma attack.
We want to cure asthma forever, so we support Australian cutting-edge research for that, too.
Providing personalised care for people with asthma
General practitioner A/Prof Christopher Pearce outlines how GPs can personalise asthma care to best suit each person's circumstances, and discusses the role of self-management and how to communicate effectively with patients including young children.
Asthma in Australia: 1. Asthma basics
This module provides an overview of the current prevalence and impact of asthma in Australia, and will help you identify common challenges to providing optimal asthma care in primary practice. Participants will gain an understanding of the heterogeneity of asthma and the importance of tailoring treatment to the individual patient.
Asthma in Australia: 2. Partnering with your patients
This module looks at the impact of asthma for patients with mild-to-moderate and severe disease, and helps you give your patients the tools to self-manage their condition. The module also explores the psychosocial factors that can increase the impact of asthma, and provides practical tips and resources for mitigating these.
Asthma in Australia: 3. Adjusting treatment and encouraging adherence
This module explores the key barriers to adherence for your asthma patients, and presents strategies to manage these challenges based on current Australian guidelines. Participants will be able to access practical resources designed to help create a written asthma action plan for your patients, as well as tips on how to make the most of your consultation time with a patient.
Asthma in Australia: 4. Preventative care to stop asthma flares
This module focuses on preventative care for your patients with asthma. The module provides and overview of potentially modifiable risk factors for flare-ups such as high SABA use, comorbidities, and exposures, and explores management strategies and brief interventions that participants can implement with their patients. Practical tips are included for GPs working in rural and remote areas, as well as for those working with culturally diverse populations.
Asthma in Australia: 5. Paediatric asthma
In this module, participants will gain greater confidence in diagnosing and treating childhood asthma, and will gain an understanding of the impact of childhood asthma on families. A series of case studies help guide the participant through relevant Australian guidelines for initiation and adjustment of asthma medications for children.
Asthma in Australia: 6. Severe asthma
This module gives an in-depth look at severe asthma in the Australian landscape, and the impact that it has on patients. The module explores the role of the wider medical team, including specialists, and guides participants through the SIMPLES approach to optimising management for patients with difficult-to-treat asthma. The module also gives an overview on utilising spirometry in a primary care setting, and provides practical treatment tips for rural and remote patients.
Asthma in Australia: Practical solutions for challenges in primary care
Based on current (2022) Australian guidelines, this activity covers best practice diagnostic and management principles for asthma, strategies for preventative care and reducing the risk of hospitalisation, and real-world tips for making the most of your consultation time with a patient.
Working together with patients to improve asthma management
Julia Ovens, an HR professional living with asthma, describes her experience living with asthma and discusses the ways medical practitioners can develop a more patient-centric approach to asthma management.
